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White Sox extend contracts with three affiliates

White Sox extend contracts with three affiliates

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By Scott Merkin
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MLB.com |

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. -- Lost in the hoopla of the White Sox trade for Adam Eaton on Tuesday was the agreement on a six-year player development extension with Triple-A Charlotte and four-year extensions with Class A Kannapolis and Advanced Rookie Great Falls.

Charlotte (International League) remains a White Sox affiliate through the 2020 season, while the deals for Kannapolis (South Atlantic League) and Great Falls (Pioneer League) run through 2018.

"This is a good day for us," said White Sox assistant general manager Buddy Bell after the deals were announced. "It's really important that we keep that continuity.

"It was really important to [White Sox chairman] Jerry [Reinsdorf] that we keep it that way. The extensions are important to keep that going."

Charlotte, which has been affiliated with the White Sox since 1999, is moving into the new BB & T Ballpark in the downtown Charlotte area. Great Falls has reached the playoffs six straight years and eight times in 11 seasons as a White Sox affiliate, while Kannapolis has sent 45 players to the Major Leagues during its 12-year-run with the White Sox.

"All our facilities are great, and the logistics of it works out really well for us," Bell said. "It's important that we keep that together. We are excited about all of it. The people that we work with, the front offices, the ownerships, we can't ask for anything better."

A White Sox affiliated team will be added in the Arizona League (Rookie), but they no longer will be associated with Bristol in the Appalachian League (Rookie).

"We liked our situation there, but just didn't have enough good players," Bell said. "We would have liked to have added a club, but, like I said, I just don't think we have enough good players."

Scott Merkin is a reporter for MLB.com. Read his blog, Merk's Works, and follow him on Twitter @scottmerkin. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.